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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel utterly depressed about my MIL?

449 replies

Crystalballs · 10/11/2013 15:18

I'm afraid this is long but I should give some background to put things into context.

DH and I have been together 8 years and have a child. My mother in law pretends to my face that she loves and supports me but it has never felt very genuine. Despite this, over the last 2 years I have started to trust her and believed she had grown to love me in some way. Obviously I'll never be one of her own and I know that, but I felt we had a good relationship.

Yesterday my friend and I overheard her making some bitchy remarks about me (we had taken my DC to visit her at her place of work, and she thought we had left when we were around the corridor after using the bathroom). We overheard MIL speaking to her sister (my Aunty in law), she said that I wasted her son's money (I don't, and one third of our household income is from my earnings), and that I should be more than happy with my lot as I've done so well in marrying her son compared to the rest of my family who have nothing.

Just 5 minutes beforehand MIL had told me she loved me. I feel so hurt and depressed by all this. It's as though we've regressed back to 6 years ago when I first became pregnant and had DC. MIL found it very difficult when DC was born and accused me of keeping her from DC because I wouldn't let her give DC first bath, let her look after DC alone and stay the night at her house at a couple of weeks old etc. I felt at the time very threatened by how much MIL thought of herself as 'mother' to my child. She even referred to my DC as her 'firstborn'.

DH is very supportive of me however it's difficult for him to act on this. The last time he did catch MIL speaking in this way about me, he confronted her but she burst into tears and basically sulked for one month whilst we had numerous phone calls from my sisters in law pleading for DH to apologise to MIL and stop her feeling so sad. In the end we gave in.

If DH or I confront MIL with this latest event it's 100% likely she will again sulk and make herself the victim. I obviously feel like I want I give her a very wide berth for a while but there's only so long I can do this before the sisters in law get involved and all side with MIL because they feel sorry of her.

I am completely fed up and feel so stupid for believing MIL thought well of me. I can't cope with this stupid childish woman any longer.

OP posts:
ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 16/12/2013 11:21

big
(I would literally have had to die for her to be happy),

This is so true of many many mils.

They have some sort of oedipul complex where they want their sons to be their replacement husbands, want to believe the child is their pure bloodline, theirs and their sons or their daughters and their sons.

A MIL did kill or try and poison a dil recently....I believe lots of them would love to do this if they could get away with it.

HoleyGhost · 16/12/2013 11:47

My mother is like this - she needs boundaries enforced like a toddler. And I've learned to accept that I will always be the black sheep in my extended family and home community due to her badmouthing.

But nowadays we all get along. I don't expect anything from her and I don't worry about it anymore. Bad behaviour is nipped in the bud without rancour.

VanillaEnvelope · 16/12/2013 12:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Crystalballs · 16/12/2013 12:40

Utterly depressing how many people have the same issues with their MIL's. Don't the MIL's see it gets them nowhere, just further away from their sons, the opposite of what they want?

We have just had a Christmas card through the door, hand delivered. It's from the IL's, written by MIL and addressed only to DH. It reads "Happy Christmas, we are always here for you as a family".

I've got a feeling her behaviour is going to get worse for a while.

MIL told SIL this morning that I am rude and never call her. Of course I never call her, she is the last person I want to spend time with.

OP posts:
TheCatThatSmiled · 16/12/2013 14:10

Hi Crystal, that card is the signal for the next stage - where she cuts you off from the family, your DH & DD . They will be invited, included, and warmly welcomed, you will be outcast. She will try and steal DDs affections as she gets older.
You must not let this happen, you and DH must show a united front. And that card must be return, with a note to address all cards to 'my family' from your DH.

This is salvageable , you can all have a relationship, but she must respect your boundaries.

Crystalballs · 16/12/2013 14:48

Shivers. There's no way my DH would accept that. And I will explain to DC what MIL does and how she behaves, so that DC are not left open to be manipulated too.

OP posts:
TheCatThatSmiled · 16/12/2013 14:55

If you are unlucky it will be slow and subtle. If there are any requests for DH to bring DCs to visit, either to hers or SILs without you, or she starts popping round while you are out, make sure your DH is aware. Good luck x

ziggiestardust · 16/12/2013 17:43

at the Christmas card. Is that the best she can do? This is a wonderful example of how vindictive she is. If the SIL's want to believe her, then brilliant. They can deal with her aaaaallll by themselves.

And as for behaviour getting worse; what is she going to do? Other than bitch about you? Which is exactly what your DH asked her not to do in the first place?

She's losing control, that's why she's angry.

I bet your DH feels a lot lighter as well.

DameFanny · 16/12/2013 19:34

I'd be tempted to send her a card from all of you, just saying "we're here as a family" Grin

Crystalballs · 16/12/2013 20:10

We've just had SIL and BIL cancel their plans with us for the week end.

I am worried this is going to escalate. DH says he doesn't care, let them carry on.

MIL must be working really hard to get as many of her family on side as she can. It's crazy. She is not anywhere near ready to accept what DH said to her.

OP posts:
Crystalballs · 16/12/2013 20:15

You're right she can only continue saying horrible things. And if she goes on for long enough she will only make herself look bad.

OP posts:
ziggiestardust · 16/12/2013 20:42

crystal good! BIL and SIL can have MIL all to themselves then! You have to play the long game here. I guarantee that within a a year or so, you'll get a message from SIL/BIL along the lines of 'erm, has MIL ever come across x way to you?'

MIL won't ever stop. She'll just turn it on someone else once she can't get her fix from feeding emotionally off you.

FunnyFestiveTableRunner · 16/12/2013 21:14

What Ziggie said. People like your MIL always need a whipping boy. The sooner you completely disengage the sooner she will turn her discontent elsewhere. No reaction = no win for her.

ZeViteVitchofCwismas · 16/12/2013 21:49

dame what a brilliant idea, so simple.

Do it!

Op, you need to disengage. There are so many of them, I am sure you have said why you cant move, but you really need too, its all so stupid and pointless and toxic...this is your one shot at life here, being eaten away by close proximity to this woman....

We had a falling out 5 years ago and thought of moving and didnt. Now when I look back, after years of misery we have got to a stage where MIL is very distant....BUT things like xmas always bring the problems back, then easter, then the birthdays, then its xmas again, its still too much....FIl turning up.

Now I look back and wished we had moved. Its been a very negative and draining experience....and a total waste of time, its impacted my health, my life in all sorts of ways, even the constant, moaning about my ILS has strained my friendships even with those who totally understand the problems, because its been hard to escape them...because they are so close....

Your doing well, you have made some progress but with the sisters you have lots to handle there lots of pressures...is it worth it?

MrsCakesPremonition · 16/12/2013 21:50

Crystal -your MiL is having a whale of a time, being the centre of a drama, mobilising the troops, surfing on the adrenalin.

Meanwhile you and your DH can enjoy feeling like you have taken back a little control over your lives.

So far it is a win/win situation.

When she finally runs out of steam, you will still be enjoying your new, calmer lives.

MumofFestiveYuck · 16/12/2013 22:16

Just read the thread. Well done to you for standing up to the manipulative bitch! Now hold firm. I'd advise you to try and be as reasonable as possible to your DH about her even if you don't feel it, or he might start to waver and see you as the bad guy who hates his mummy. I've recently had some MIL trouble and even though DH is relatively clear-eyed about her, I feel like he could be pushed into the faithful son role if I let rip too forcefully. So tread lightly and bask in your own righteousness (internally) Grin

HansieMom · 16/12/2013 22:24

Yes but you have the only children in the family. So if she distances herself, she loses big time.

Any chance of you moving close to your Mom, who is lovely and loving?

VanillaEnvelope · 17/12/2013 01:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VanillaEnvelope · 17/12/2013 01:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Holdthepage · 17/12/2013 08:26

Excellent advice from VanillaEnvelope re living well. Someone, on another MIL thread I think, advised not to let this person have a starring role in your life story.

Get on with your life as though she is nothing more than a minor irritation rather than a gigantic problem.

Crystalballs · 17/12/2013 08:28

What a good way to think of this Vanilla. It's brilliant. Your IL's sound very similar to mine, particularly the DSIL. I will use this, thank you!

OP posts:
struggling100 · 17/12/2013 09:01

I definitely second the advice you had earlier about getting SILs involved. Ring them, explain what has happened in an utterly straightforward way (just as you have here), and ask for advice. Explain how hurt you feel by the comments, but say that you don't want to create a scene. Be genuinely open to what they have to suggest.

If nothing else, this will highlight the pattern in her behaviour so that others are aware.

My in-laws are a bit of a nightmare to handle: they are very set in their ways, and very passive-aggressive and controlling. However, we've started to manage them by working in tandem with my BIL and his partner (who share our frustrations at their behaviour). Not only has this made them a bit easier to deal with, but it has added a slightly naughty sense of conspiracy to things, so that when they are being really overbearing, we go away and have a quiet giggle together. It makes it bearable!

WhenSarahAndStuckUpTheChimney · 17/12/2013 10:33

Crystal I have been where you are and it's not good, I'm sorry she and the rest of the family are putting you through this.

There was a book suggested earlier, Toxic In-Laws by Susan Forward, and it's very good, as is her other one, Toxic Parents. I would second the recommendations to read them.

One story in particular stood out to me, a man who won a Christmas skiing trip in a radio competition had his holiday and his relationship ruined by his mother and siblings because he went away for Christmas and they didn't like it. They put him under immense pressure not to go on holiday.

His mother effectively cancelled Christmas ("there's no point in putting up a tree/cooking a turkey/having any presents etc without X here...") and then sat back to play the victim while the siblings phoned him and did all the arguing about ruining what could be their mother's last Christmas (she was 56 I think so hardly in 'last Christmas' territory).

The book says that the man who won the holiday rocked the boat. His family were set in a pattern of keeping their mother happy and he broke it. His mother would have been satisfied either way, if he stayed at home and gone to her house for Christmas, she had won because she was the centre of attention and he was there with her.

But if he went on holiday, she was the poor victim and the rest of her children were fussing over her and taking her side, while he was feeling guilty and wishing he hadn't gone on the trip. It was win-win for her.

The siblings played their part because it's how they had grown up, nobody upsets Mum, and for one person to do it and get away with it, it made them question themselves a bit and people don't like that.

This is what my PILs do. They hand out the bullets so everyone else can fire the guns for them, then when all the noise dies down they can claim that they never wanted any trouble.

And they think that they can say or do the worst things and then pretend it never happens. At best they will say sorry but then go on to justify why they were right and you are wrong. Or, as your MIL has done, they will lie to your face about things you know really happened.

To give you an example, in 2007 we lost our first baby to stillbirth and three days after he was born my MIL put a lot of pressure on me to decide when we might try for another baby, argued with me about the time our son was born and finally asked me if it still hurts to give birth if your baby is dead.

That should have been the point I cut all contact but we were shellshocked and in a mess and it actually took two more years to walk away and reduce contact with her and almost two years more for me and DS to go no contact with her (DH visits occasionally, I have nothing to do with PILs at all).

In those two years we lost another baby to prematurity and MIL demanded to know if she had been born with all of her face or not, she told me my babies didn't count as proper grandchildren because they had died, discussed me with totally strangers and came up with a theory about what was wrong with me, invented reasons for us losing our son and daughter, put our premature daughters photographs in the rubbish and when we finally went on to have DS she started calling herself his mother.

She also told lies about me to the rest of the family and denied ever saying or doing any of the things I've written here, even though other family members had witnessed them.

DS was about 21 months old when we finally went no contact and it was the best thing I have ever done. We moved house as they were also just around the corner from us at the time and seriously, I would suggest that you move if you can.

It's also been very hard. Apart from a fiancé of BIL's, I think I have been the first family member to stand up to her and mean it in over forty years. She's almost 62 now, she was 47 when I met her and even then the family were passing off her manipulative and controlling behaviour as her 'speaking before she thinks' and saying 'she doesn't mean it' or 'she's too old to change.' I'm sorry but I don't think 47 or 62 is too old to change or to not be accountable for your own actions.

But DH has found it hard. PILs cannot believe that I am serious about not seeing them and it's been 3 years since the last time I saw them willingly. They went absolutely crazy when they realised I was sticking to my decision.

The entire family was informed of how evil I was, they actually drove around the country visiting people to show them a letter I wrote in reply to one from MIL as proof that I was a liar. In it I talked about my grief for our children and how much more difficult MILs actions had made our losses. Such as the way she upset DH the day before our son's funeral, because she thought he didn't sound happy enough to speak to her on the phone and so she laid into him about how awful he was to her.

One BIL sent a barrage of abuse by text and phone and so we don't see him either now. Other BIL and SIL (also a DIL) said less but BIL made it clear he was on his mother's side because he refused to ever visit our new house as his parents hadn't been to it, he unfriended me on Facebook and distanced himself from us. He is the one who had a fiancé who stood up to MIL and his response to that was to break the engagement as it was easier than standing up to his parents. I think he found it very hard to see me stand up to them because it made him acknowledge in a small way that he never does.

DH's sister has been quite supportive, although she feels torn between the two. MIL has let it be known that she is very jealous of her daughter and put her under pressure to take sides.

And PILs stalked me. I couldn't leave the house without them following me around the streets, they would sit outside and stare at the house when we were in it, if we were out they knew the very second we were home and the phone was ringing, message after message after message on the answer machine, letters and notes in the post box, following me around shops, driving onto the pavement to stop me walking along it, letters sent to my parents house, our friends being hassled on Facebook etc.

All because someone finally said enough is enough.

Anyway I'm sorry this is so long OP but the main thing I wanted to say is that you are not alone in going through something like this but if you and your DH stick together and stick to what you want to happen, it's worth it. It really is. Even through all of that it was like a weight had been lifted from me.

You can't change someone else, you can only change your response to their behaviour.

If you keep that in mind and you both stick to it, your MIL may realise she has to change herself. Or, like mine, she may not. But you will still be feeling better because you've changed your reactions to her to a way that works for you and your family.

Nanny0gg · 17/12/2013 11:19

WhenSarahAndStuckUpTheChimney That isn't just 'bad' MiL behaviour, the woman sounds seriously unhinged.

I cannot comprehend how anyone could behave in that fashion for any reason at all.

I hope your DH learns to walk away one day too.

MoominMammasHandbag · 17/12/2013 16:43

Just what is it with MiLs and their sons? I have posted before about a lovely friend of mine who is already extremely belittling and mean about her 18 year old son's girlfriends. He is her golden boy and no one will ever be good enough.
I have known her long enough to remember her own mother being just the same with her brother.